Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I am very interested in debate about Paleo and diet in general.. I started down the Paleo path because I was skeptical about SAD, and my skepticism persists. However, when I see a discussion about controversial Paleo principles, the conversation inevitably focuses on weight loss. I suppose its a great way to physically represent a point (e.g., I lost 50 pounds doing Paleo, but 5 pounds doing LF), but is that all we have?

Reversal of diabetes and obesity are wonderful achievements, but to someone who is otherwise healthy, is Paleo's success measurable?

I pose these questions not only to help convince myself that eating Paleo is right, but I want to help others experiment with Paleo. The problem is these people are also pretty darn healthy.

edited Apr 19 2011 at 3:13

asked Apr 18 2011 at 22:12

BaleoNub
849●3●11

	telomere biology is where it all rubber meets all roads. – The Quilt Apr 18 2011 at 22:56
	@Baleo, I too started Paleo as a fit, athletic 31 year old male with no sickness, no issues at all. I was WAP for years and just new that grains never made me feel well. – ben61820 May 2 2011 at 14:14

Bruce87 · Answer 1 · 2011-05-02 12:55:29Z UTC

A simple way (and stealing from Robb Wolf here) is see how you 'look, feel and perform'. How do you look? - Do you look leaner or have you put on muscle mass (if your training)? A friend of mine about 4 weeks into paleo has noticed the bags under her eyes have disappeared and her skin is far less dry and more 'shiny'. Have you noticed any changes like this? How do you feel? - Has it helped with any aliments you have previously had e.g. feeling bloated, gassy etc. I noticed my sleep was dramatically improved when on paleo! How do you perform? - If your training have you noticed an improvement in workout results e.g. lift more weight. Do you recover faster both in the short term? i.e heart rate returns to normal levels faster, and recover faster in the longer term i.e less muscle sorness and fatigue.

These are difficult to measure (apart from workout results) and are quite subjective, but basically if you generally feel better since you went paleo, then your on the right track! :)

L. Peltier · Answer 2 · 2011-05-02 14:05:11Z UTC

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For me, body fat loss is effortless, skin glows, significant reduction in allergy symptoms, quicker recovery times and greater strength increases, no feelings of blood sugar drops between meals or even on extended fasts, better sleep, reduced stress levels, and I never get sick. Oh, n though it was never a problem before, my libido is through the roof.

answered May 2 2011 at 14:05

L. Peltier

	Spot-on with my experience as well. Perhaps the biggest noticeable and enjoyable change has been the complete LACK of hunger pangs and urges to eat crap food. – ben61820 May 2 2011 at 14:15
	Definitely! To me, its a freedom that cannot be put into words! – L. Peltier May 2 2011 at 14:41

Baglady · Answer 3 · 2011-04-18 22:41:08Z UTC

I no longer feel the scale can help me. I have been on a weight loss journey for three years but Paleo for the last 18 months has reaped the most for me. Not in pounds but rather in inches (8 in 18 months)

IMO, Inches lost are a much better measure

MF · Answer 4 · 2011-04-19 17:31:57Z UTC

While not specifically measurable in the sense of numbers (maybe some of the research scientists know a way to), but the best effects of eating clean for most healthy athletic folks are the decreased inflammation, and the increased recovery times after tough workouts or hard days at work.

Weight loss is great, but the best, IMO, results are the diminished symptoms of auto-immune diseases or syndromes the medical establishment doesn't want to admit exist like chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. The diminished thyroid issues or unknown food intolerances speak for themselves.

Paleo for healthy people? How to measure results?

4 Answers